290711, Friday evening, not much happening

Went to Umthatha yesterday with Lucy and her youngest, Noma-India, 7years old (her first time ever in Umthatha and a city of any kind…!  She had never seen anything like  traffic lights, traffic jams or automatic doors before.)  I think she was quite exhausted by the end of the day, but happy.  I bought her a Mcdonalds hamburger when we first arrived (Had to go to the best toilet in town!)

 I did my monthly shopping while Lucy looked for shoes for her son and clothes for Noma-India.  I felt quite embarrassed as I loaded in my heavy bags of stuff from Shoprite, probably most luxury items that I could survive without… But hey, I grew up in a different world…what is normal to me, is absolute indulgence to some other people.  Maybe I’ll still learn to adapt, not sure.  There certainly is a huge difference between being poor and being able to get by.  I certainly love to eat well, can’t do without my super awesome fruit and veggies, got to make sure that I don’t run out of anything, I have been poor in my life and would choose not to return to that exact state.  It’s not completely in my hands though. 

 But this has been an interesting topic since I’ve arrived in the old Transkei.  The question of how basic do you really want your life to be?  Believe me, the question gets asked when you’re around here.  And there are good and bad things whichever way you lean.  So, perhaps to find the balance somewhere in between?  I certainly know that when the storms were raging earlier this week, I would have been better off with less possessions.  The less you have, the less you have to loose.  And we realize how little we really do need. 

 But, there are many luxuries in life, which some we may choose to have in our lives and there’s nothing wrong with that.  I enjoy a good cup of coffee now and then, which cost a little more than Ricoffee.  I’ve been trying to learn to play the guitar since my 21^st birthday, now and then I really enjoy playing some rhythms on my djembe drum… None of these I’m really good at, but they add a certain amount of pleasure to my life on the occasion.  I was so happy when I stopped at the Post Office in Mqanduli yesterday and my ipod charger had arrived (the internet tracking system said that it was still in transit after almost 4 weeks...)  I seriously love listening to music on my ipod with my little speakers… Life wouldn’t be the same without them…

 So, for the moment, I’m somewhere in between, trying to figure it all out.  Trying to make sense of the lives of my new friends and find where I want to be in my life.  I definitely don’t want to jeopardize the experience and opportunities that I’ve been so fortunate to receive in my life. 

260711, Tuesday, safe for now...

Last night was another rather tough stormy night.  I got the caravan and tent moved to a drier spot, but we made the wrong decision to turn it to face the west wind, not a good idea.  I guess it's a good thing the wind blew so wildly last night, so I could realize that I had to move it again.  Couldn't sleep as I had to get up every now and then to put in poles and pegs...

My body feels really broken today.  I've grown some new muscles, or just pulled them.  My hands are roughed and bruised with little cuts I'm not sure what from, I just remember hitting myself with the hammer once.  Before you laugh, just imagine yourself out in a storm in the middle of the night, can't see much cause you're wearing a hoodie to try and protect yourself from the elements, wind and rain and you're tired cause you've been running around frantically all day and night and you keep on putting the hammer and peg out of your own reach and you can't even see where you put it...  I'm not complaining.  I'm just stating the facts, so you know how much I appreciate being able to sit under some blankets right now and drink some rooibos with a whole lemon squeezed into it.  (Gotta take precautions here!) And my electricity is back on as well as my gas, I'm almost back to completely fully operating!

And pray that tonight I'll have a peaceful sleep and no more dramas and disasters please this week thank you, it's been fun.  It's kind of nice being on a new spot I must say.  I'll still have to get used to it and tell you all about it.  

By the way, it's still raining...!

250711, Monday evening, enough of this wet and wild day...!

The water started coming into my doorway...

I'm really parked in a dam here...

It's just before 10pm now.  It's been hectic!  Crazy day!!! An hour ago, the rain  stopped for the first time in 24 hours.  Thank You God!  Just enough time for me to go out in the now-starting wind to try and get some tent pegs in...  This day was insane!!  I need a break!  

So I really started getting worried as i saw the water just rising and rising and getting much too close to coming into my caravan!!  I don't think it was made to float...  So I started frantically packing stuff together until the realization sank in that I will actually have to move and damn quick too!  Finally I went out to see who could help me in the pouring rain.  My neighbor peeped out of his caravan but went back inside just as quickly.  Can't blame the man, no hard feelings!

Thank God Kyle was brave enough to come and help and I got two of Leon's guys - Mawar and Vincent as well.  All angels!  Finally Leon came with his bakkie as well and we got the caravan towed a couple of spot further.  There aren't many other options to choose from here.  And the rain keeps coming!  I don't even want to think about this river surrounding us. This whole place could potentially flood.  Then I won't be the only one with the problems.

Anyway, so the guys helped getting the tent up again and put in the pegs...not too well I must say...and some important ropes got loosened.  All I wanted was to put on some dry clothes and eat something.  By 5 it's prettty much dark here and a cold wind started blowing today.  The bad part of my new spot is that it's directly facing the wild west wind...!  Just what I need to avoid (apart from the water...)  And my tent is leaking majorly now, perhaps cause it got wet on the inside, I'm not sure.  Well, seems like everything's wet anyway.

I rearranged the caravan a bit, earlier I just threw stuff in and tried to get my valuables like laptop and camera to a safe place in my car.  I was thinking, you know, anything could happen, I could just lose all my possessions tonight.  I felt a kind of peace about it, but would still like to avoid it if at all possible!

Can't use electricity or gas for now, everything's still a bit risky.  I came back from the bathroom and all of a sudden could see the sky through my roof.  Not a good sign!!  The top cover had blown off!!!  The thing I really don't want to happen, cause that means I'm completely exposed to the elements and the rain will come inside the caravan!  So I rushed out and tried to tie that down, I really hope I did a good job.  Man I wish Donovan was here today, but he'll be proud of me, well I hope.  I guess we'll see if I survive this night.  My hands are sore from the ropes and my nails are as dirty as a mole's...  My back feels slightly broken and I hope I can sleep semi-peacefully tonight.  

As I was tying down the ropes and putting in pegs, I thought of the disciples of Jesus the night they were in the storm on the boat and Jesus was sleeping.  It calmed me down...  I thought, hey Jesus, everything's all right isn't it?

Well, this might just be the beginning of the storm...

250711, Monday morning, think happy thoughts

This river appeared at the campsite overnight and is yet to be named
I once thought that camping in the middle of a lake would be a romantic idea

There is no end in sight for when the rain will stop...
Yes, that is water coming from the inside of my tent

Right, so it’s 11:30 in the morning, I’m still in my pajamas (in fact I have changed into a second set of dry pajamas by now) and I’m sitting in bed under warm blankets typing this. My plans for doing my week’s washing didn’t really pan out so far. It’s raining. It started last night about 7pm and it has been raining LITERALLY NONSTOP ever since, with varying degrees of intensity… I think I can safely say we are experiencing a little bit of a flood moment right now. Well, I know I am. My neighbor didn’t go to his road-works job this morning. And I can see that the rest of the campsite is pretty much under water, which means the bridge is most definitely flooded as well.

I’ve been running around outside trying very much in vain to scoop countless buckets of water from around my tent. My caravan water tank is nicely filled up as is all other containers I had standing around. I didn’t see that I was making any millimeter’s difference by carrying away all those buckets of water. It was like single-handedly trying to empty out the ocean, bucket by bucket. So I gave up that idea. And came in to make some coffee and have a biscuit. I felt like sharing the situation with someone so here I am.

This is definitely the most rain in the shortest amount of time that I’ve experienced since being here. My tent floor (which Donovan raised for me the first time it flooded -with soil and covered with plastic- and which we felt pretty secure would do the trick) has now again turned into a floating floor, quickly sinking under swamp particulates. I’m not sure what to think of it.

I’m experiencing a bit of denial of the situation right now. Which is why I’m writing about it so lightheartedly. No really, I can’t see past the moment how this situation is going to play itself out. Either I’ll have to dig deep trenches all around my caravan and tent and build a big dam… Or I’ll have to move to another spot. That’s a sad thought, but perhaps I don’t really have much of a choice.

Right now it’s still raining with no end in sight and the situation could very well get worse. (No kidding!) As long as my gumboots don’t float away I guess I’ll survive. And thank God it is not leaking inside my caravan, I would’ve possibly lost my mind. So, I’m safe and dry in my caravan-island. People have survived worse things. I haven’t had to climb up a tree in order not to drown. A comforting thought is that I do have a tree next to my caravan in case it comes to that.

There’s a lot of really good drinking water going to waste here right now. And I’m sneezing, that can’t be good. I should probably go and empty out my containers again now, for what it’s worth, I don’t think much.

Yes, so it looks much worse now than an hour ago. Really nothing I can do except to take some photographs as evidence and look at the bright side. My car is certainly much cleaner now. And it’s still raining…

240711, Sunday rest day

The past week has exhausted me for some reason.  I guess Tuesday night’s staying out a little later than usual for Kobus’ birthday took it’s toll on me.  Also a lot of things happened in those first couple of days of the week, my mind hasn’t processed all of it yet.

 It is Sunday and I decided yesterday already that I’m not going to see anyone.  I just want to sleep and quiet my thoughts.  It’s worked out well so far.  I woke up at 9ish and although the sun was out it was also a bit cloudy, almost misty so I easily slept until 11:30.  I was quite surprised to see it’s so late.  I went for a shower and not long after I got back, Mawar-one guy that works for Leon, came around with some straps that we’ve been planning to use to secure my tent more before the August wind starts.  I was glad to be up and dressed by this time.  I didn’t expect them to come around on a Sunday.  It took only 3 minutes to put up, but I am thankful to Leon and Mawar for doing this even on a Sunday.

 After that I went to the shop to buy half loaf of bread for R4, I was happy to see that they give that option, because I always let my bread get moldy.  And that is so wrong, I should really learn a way to not let that happen.  Make a sandwich for someone every day…? Oke, I’l try to remember that.  A good idea, actually.  I should invest in more peanut butter and jam and every day make a sandwich or 2 that I can take with to the mamas and share.  Sometimes when I run into someone o n the road, I could also give it to them.

 I walked past an old lady with 2 children today with my half-loaf.  I recognized her from selling beads on the beach.  She doesn’t look very rich.  I should have given her something, I realised when I got home.  When I took some raisins later, she’d left.  I don’t know if she was there hoping to get something, but she didn’t beg and I walked right past.  I know she would have been very thankful for any small thing I would’ve given her.  I’m sorry that I didn’t.  I hope I run into her again soon.  And I hope God lends me His heart and His wisdom the next time I come across such an opportunity.

210711, Thursday

Moses and Dave
Moses
Lukholo
Brothers Lukholo and Thobile

Just tried to catch up with my photo work today... Got to print some for the people when I go to Umthatha next week.  The days here are passing too quickly and I hardly get done all the things I have to!  

Went to the other side after lunch to practice some Xhosa.  Wasn't there for long when a familiar face (and another little one) approached from the beach!  I was so happy to see my friend Sarah and baby Capri finally returned from Cape Town!  I was worried that they won't come back anytime soon, in fact last week I dreamt about them and dreamt that they came back and Capri was having a conversation with me!  I thought, please don't let it be that long before I see you guys again...!

I had a nice walk the long way back home and quickly went to the beach as the sun was setting.  I was lucky to catch my students Thobile and Lukholo on their way out after surfing, so I could take a pic or two.  Not long before Moses and Dave, their surf-instructor and owner of Coffee Shack came out too.

I was really hungry tonight and spoilt myself with a glass or 2 of wine and my last surviving brinjal of the month with some sun-dried tomatoes (great idea!), garlic, chillies and olive oil with spaghetti and a bit of cheese...mmm

200711, Wednesday, Umdumbi

A mama carrying water home

The indoor compost toilet (grey and black water being recycled)

Going self-sustainable!

Troy and Kobus joking around the fire

Yesterday was the birthday of Kobus (one of the 3 guys who live at the house where I stayed when I  first arrived).  They made a nice fire and bought some very freshly caught shads (type of fish – very delicious!) from 2 local fishermen.  Troy also made some yummy crispy amagwinyas (the vetkoek) and we had a good time around the fire talking about various topics like the cycles of the moon and how you start realizing when you live so closely to nature, just how much God loves us and how perfectly He made everything.  Awesome!

 This morning I took a drive with the 3 guys to Umdumbi, just about half an hour from Coffee Bay.  There‘s a wonderful backpackers and some people who have been doing some really amazing work amongst the community, doing everything they can to create jobs and promote education amongst the community and people who visit the area. 

 They are promoting total self-sustainability through practicing a very effective permaculture lifestyle. (Permaculture is an ecological design system for sustainability in all aspects of human endeavor. It teaches us how to build natural homes, grow our own food, restore diminished landscapes and ecosystems, catch rainwater, build communities and much more.) 

Check this out for more info - www.mdumbi.co.za and also www.transcape.org Very inspiring stuff!  We all have a lot to learn!

Today's unexpected visit in the hills...

The happy Snooks and Fika...!

Thank you Milli and Emma!!!

180711, Monday, glorious day!

Poor chicken, might as well get used to being in the pot!

y

Love the beautiful mamas!!

Happy birthday Madiba!

Today was full of surprises… One of those days that I really felt like I’m living my dream and I totally love it! 

 Was supposed to be working on my laptop this morning, when I ran into the old lady that kind of supervises the campsite, when she told me that it’s pension day today and she’ll be going to join the queues to collect her pension.  I’ve been waiting for this day, because it happens not too far from me and it’s very interesting because there is also a bit of a market that springs up around all the queues.  So off I went.

 There were some long queues, very brightly colored lovely beautiful mamas and also some younger women collecting children’s grants.  The queue for the men was exceptionally shorter.  Everyone waited quite a while for the money guys to arrive, but when they did, everything happened very organized and surprisingly fast.  As soon as the people collected their money, they would first go and sit somewhere and count their money, it almost looked to me like they were praying.  Then they’d go off and do some shopping for amongst other things, live chickens-probably to become tonight’s dinner.  There was also ‘amasi’ (sour milk that they like to drink or use to dip their bread in. I didn’t dare taste it today, but I only just remembered that we used to drink it when I was a child in Natal and that I really loved it.  It’s kind of just like yoghurt.  I’m going to have some next time)

 When I arrived there, I was so overwhelmed by all the beautiful mamas and of course wanted to take millions of pictures, but they’re not always so keen on being photographed and wanted money.  I bought a bag of oranges and handed them out.  Of course there were way more mamas than oranges so they had to do some sharing and I would never have had enough even then.  But there were many happy faces and next time I’ll do it again.  It was such a nice feeling, they were all just so thankful.  I only took a few pics today but I’ll go visit them again next time.  It was also so great to randomly meet my bead-mamas amongst the other people, they were also so happy to see me.  It feels like I have a lot of friends here.  And my language is also slowly improving, although I know I say just about everything wrong but they understand me a little now and then.  I also bought a handmade round reed mat for R20, that’s supposed to be used to pack fruit on, but it’s a bit big for my table, so now it’s become wall decoration. 

 I then had a brief session with Thobile and Ninti, they both did very well in their surfing competition during the holiday.  And it was so wonderful to discover that Thobile’s reading has improved quite a bit during the holiday!! I’m so excited about that, and so is he.  He says he just started to be able to recognize words and was practicing reading bits in a surf magazine!  Aesome!!  And Ninti is almost getting the alphabet down, although we’ll still have to use a lot of patience. 

 The third surprise was for Snooks and Fika when I finally gave them their clothes that came with Milli, from Emma all the way from Cape Town.  They were super excited!  I went with them to their house and watched as they were trying on stuff.  They are very very happy!  Even Fika who didn’t get much, because it was really girl’s stuff.  Snooks said her favourite thing is the dress, that’s kind of like a princess dress…oooh she loves it!  I don’t think Fika will take his new hat off tonight and he’s definitely going to cuddle with his football soft toy… Happiness.

 As I was sitting there 2 other ladies came in. Fourth surprise. One of them I know from Gogo’s house where I first stayed.  She works there and doesn’t speak any English.  They were saying something I didn’t quite understand, but got the idea they were sad that I didn’t give any of the clothes for their children.  I’ve never met their children or even knew that they had.  So, well, they asked me to give them a lift home, which I was a bit reluctant of, because I know that road is bad…but I agreed so off we went.  On the way we picked up one lady’s mother as well and another guy carrying her window glass…When we got there they asked if I wanted to see their houses.  Of course I said yes. 

 So when we got to the first lady’s house, it was so strange, almost déjà vu, but different.  The woman’s sister was outside washing dishes with the 2 little girls and her face looked like a mixture of her and someone else I knew.  And the 2 girls were so pretty.  Their house feels like such a happy home.  Then after not too long, my bead-mama friend Esther arrived and it turns out she’s the grandmother of the 2 little girls and the mother of the 2 sisters.  Then it all made sense!  It’s so amazing getting to know people a little bit and seeing how their families ties together!

 So then I took some family photos and was taken to another couple of huts in the area to go and take some more pictures of the families.  It was something I thought about doing before I came here and now it’s just happened without even planning it!  I have to print a lot of photos when I go to Umthatha again!

 Thank You God, I’m so happy today!!

 

170711, Sunday forest walk

The river leading to the forest
Travis at a cute little kiddies? hut on the way to the forest.

Some sheep on our way back from the forest...

Was a lovely day, went for a walk in the forest with my new friend Travis.  We went past the sacred pools which I’d like to visit again, hopefully many times, in the future. There is some clay close to the river, which I want to go scoop out and see if I can do some pottery... That would be super amazing!  We almost got slightly lost in the forest but not for long.  Saw some other beautiful parts of village... Thank You Lord for a beautiful day!

A quick sunset blessing...

170711, Yesterday... Saturday- Coffee Bay Rainbow people

Isham who runs Jah Drum, my Indian friend who makes the best rotis...
Haji, the clothes-maker
Jimmy, from Afritude
Bobby the dog, has been known to catch piggies
Esther and Gloria, 2 lovely bead ladies

Well, I’ve  really enjoyed my free time today, after the week of full-time teaching.   I don’t know if I make a very good school- teacher, but hopefully I can make a difference in someone’s life.  Only God will know that.  I missed taking photographs.

 I had a good morning with doing a lot of washing and really enjoying it.  The sun was just perfect and it felt a bit like I was splashing around in a little pool.  After doing a little bit more of cleaning I was getting quite hot, so I went for a swim in the ocean.  It’s amazing that I live this close to the sea!  Wow, I’m really blessed.  But I haven’t swum here as much yet, as you would think.  But today everything just worked out well, so I could go swim  just after one, to get the nicest bit of sun warming me up a little.  And of course the water here is always a fine temperature, so it’s much easier to get into it than Cape Town, although the winter does affect it slightly.  I imagine that summer here must be quite awesome and I’m looking forward to it and to experience it with some other people as well.

 In the movies everyone wants to escape to Mexico.  I think this is South-Africa’s version.  If you can somehow manage to loose yourself from the ties in the city, you can be quite happy in this place. 

 After baby potatoes for a late lunch I walked sea-way to the other side.  Haven’t seen anyone in so long.  Little Josh was there, sitting on a horse.  Fika was curious but not eager to get on the beast.  It was great to see them.  A lot of mamas were also still there and I said hello, once again so nice to see them too.  I love these people.  I couldn’t stay too long to chat, I wanted to find out if my friend Sarah and Capri are back from Cape Town.  It doesn’t look like it.  I hope they come back soon.

 I went to say hi to my friends at Jah Drum and met a rasta guy who makes very interesting clothes.  It was also good to see all those other guys and they made me feel really at home.  I started getting into a little bit of a photo shoot, the light looked really nice on everyone.

I had to tear myself away from it all as it was suddenly getting chilly and late.   I shouldn’t walk home too late.  There are one or 2 tsotsis who seem to want to follow me every now and then, I am a fast walker though.  I also walk different routes and have a few friends I might meet along the way.  As long as I stay in the open places, although that’s not always possible.  I could do with a dog, yes.  But I trust God for protection.  I must just not give anyone the opportunity to mess with me.

140711, Thursday-almost done with Holiday camp!

Lunch time peanut butter/jam and polony sandwiches...
Break time fun and team building exercises

Putting heads together in the science class...
Tomorrow is the last day of the week's 'holiday camp'.  It's been good, I'm finally starting to get to know the students a little bit, but it's still difficult for me, after getting used to having only 12 students in a TEFL class.  Some of the kids are pretty much Beginner level and also extremely shy, so refuse to say a word, while others are of quite a higher level.  Really difficult to find the balance with them.  But I believe we've made a bit of progress this week!  And hopefully when we continue next weekend, we can build on this foundation.

I'm looking forward to having my current so-called 'normal' life back again.  I've been craving to learn more Xhosa!  So next week I'll be back with my mamas again and back with the kids I'm teaching here in Coffee Bay, yay!  

120711, Tuesday, day 2 of ‘holiday camp’

I’m kind of tired right now and glad that I’m not a school teacher permanently. I missed my adult TEFL students from all over the world today…!

I spoke to a lot of the school kids today and just realized again how difficult it must be for them to try and learn English and compete with the rest of the world for a decent job of any kind.  They just don’t have basic human needs. 

Water, they have to walk some distance away from home to fetch it, some further than others. Electricity, roughly estimated I’d say 99% of families here don’t have electricity.  So no TV, Dvd players, fridges, computers, Hi Fi’s, ipods, only the odd battery operated radio.  The roads are bad and a lot of people live where there aren’t even any roads.  Hardly anyone have cars.  Things we take for granted growing up in the western world, like libraries.  Imagine your childhood without even a book in any language! A few of them can afford to buy an English magazine now and then.  Can you imagine how these kids are supposed to complete any project?  The kids in the city simply google everything…

The only opportunity for learning English is their English class in school, taught by a local Xhosa teacher, whose pronunciation and general use of English is probably not even up to scratch.  But then all our English teachers go off to Taiwan, South Korea and China, cause the money is so good.  But our own people are completely neglected. 

I wish the government would start by at least putting up one library within reach of a couple of schools, so that everyone can get to a library even if they have to take a taxi to get there.  Later they can start with computer and internet centers.  I wish I had the business skills to put up something like that! 

Okay that’s all I wanted to say for today thanks.

Sunday sunset 100711

First bag in the making!

East meets West

At Lucy's place

Lucy's 'baby' Noma-India and niece Nozibele
The proud mother hen

100711, Sunday again already!

Wow, haven’t written in too long a time!  Will have to start with today and work my way back to the rest of the week…   Woke up with beautiful sunshine this morning!  Felt like summer. 

 I think I’ve been here for pretty much 2 months now.  It sounds so short!  I’m feeling almost completely settled in now. I'm starting to really love it here and appreciate the small things like being able to look at the stars when I have to go to the toilet in the middle of the night. Or being able to stand outside and see the hornbills when I'm washing my dishes.  Or just hearing the ocean from my caravan!  It's really good to be this close to nature.

 It’s also starting to happen more and more that I get people I’ve met around here to just pitch up at my tent to come and say hello or invite me for a beer or something.  Not much time for being lonely now!  That’s good.  Today I went to visit a new friend who got some land from the locals and have been living in the village for around 6/7 years.  He’s got a quaint-looking rondavel on a beautiful piece of land next to a river where he’s planting a lot of fruit trees and the works.  A very peaceful place. 

Yesterday I spent most of the day in the caravan, together with my good Xhosa friend Lucy, trying to make a bag from some schwe-schwe material that I got from Ngcwanguba.  I’ve had this bag idea since before I came here and now finally we’re trying it out.  I never really won the prize for sowing when I was in primary school, in fact I remember asking my grandma to finish my projects for me on more that one occasion.  So let me say it was a little bit difficult and we haven’t quite finished yet.  And we’ll only be able to continue the week after this (we’re doing the Axium ‘holiday camp’ teaching project this whole week).  But it was a rewarding experience and the bag will look very nice once it’s done.  We won’t be able to sell this one, cause I already made the mistake of  putting the inside pocket on the inside-out side…!

But it’s okay.  Lucy can use the bag and it’ll still look pretty.  We’ll learn from our mistakes!  I was in any case very excited by the whole idea of starting the first bag of many, using the caravan as workshop and working side by  side with my Xhosa friend.  We take turns in teaching each other a little bit off each other’s languages every now and then

A few days ago Lucy also took me to go and see where she currently lives in the village.  She lives there with her mother, 4 children and I think another brother and his children.  On her own piece of land, about 10 minutes walk from where she lives now, she is having a new rondavel and ‘flat’ built, which should be finished in a couple of months.  

Normally you’ll find a rondavel (round hut) (Depending on how many family members live there, there might be more rondavels- normally one family per hut -fathers are often absent) and a smallish flat house (which they call a ‘flat’) on every property. I’m still trying to figure out the reason for this.  All I know is that sometimes they have one rondavel that is only used for cooking.  They’ll make a fire in the middle of the hut and cook some food like samp-and-beans in a big black ironcast pot (driepoot pot- Afrikaans for ‘pot with 3 legs’). 

Also in this hut, at Lucy’s place (where she’s living now) she has a beautiful big white hen brooding over her eggs and hatched chicks in a basket.  This is the safest place for the hen, away from the curious dogs.  In another broken down building she has some more, little bit older chicks that she keeps safe and feeds regularly. 

They eat some of the eggs and occasionally a chicken.  They also have 2 pigs in a little wooden kraal and some geese and goats.  I don’t think all the families have so many animals.  Lucy takes care of her animals very well and even has a cute little black kitty.  They also plant corn, potatoes and sweet potatoes on their land. 

Lucy lives with her children in a good-sized one room hut, where they also have a kitchen table and cupboard where they keep all the kitchen utensils.  We had some tea and later Lucy made some very nice nqush (might be the wrong spelling!  But it’s basically samp and beans).  Together with that she also made a sort of gravy with onions and Imana soup powder.  I really enjoyed this meal and would like it on my menu for “The friendly butternut hut”.  And I hope our friendship goes a long way!

Can’t remember much significant from the previous few days, other that some beautiful sunsets and Milli that left on Friday morning and that’s when I went to Ngcwanguba to buy the material and buttons, pins etc.  When I go to Umthatha again, I’ll look for hand operated sowing machines.  No electricity in the villages. 

On Tuesday I had an interesting day with a guy I know from Cape Town who was in Coffee Bay for 2 nights.  He’s a journalist that works for a fishing magazine and they came to do a story about a crayfish plant in Mdumbi, a place about an hour from Coffee Bay.  So I went with to take some pics for them and hear the whole story.  They export the crayfish and employ a good number of local people that work at the plant as well as a whole lot of fishermen that catch the crayfish and sell it to them.  Sounds like a good business. 

Okay I could elaborate more, but I’ve got to go to sleep now.  I’ll try not to skip so many days in between again!